Tummy tuck drain is still dark red after 2 weeks. Will doctor take them out anyway?

Question

Hi. I had a tummy tuck 2 weeks ago. I went to the doctors 1 week ago and although my drainage was very low he wouldn't take them out because it was dark red fluid coming out. Now I'm at the end of week 2 and it's still dark red but fluid drainage is low. I go back to the doctors tomorrow. Do you think he will take out the drain tubes?

Farhad Rafizadeh, MD · Answer

The reason your doctor is not taking out your drain is that you probably have a hematoma. This means that you had some bleeding. When you bleed the blood forms clots. The colts are solid like gello and it takes over two weeks for the clots to become liquid and gradually come out of the drain as really dark old blood. If I had operated on you. I would be faced with an important decision. The main question is how much blood clots you have under your skin. An MRI or an ultrasound could be helpful to answer this question. Sometimes one can tell with the physical exam. If there is a lot of blood. Your surgeon would have to take you back and evacuate the blood. If there is very little blood clots then leaving the drains a long time could help the blood to come out as it gets liquified. If the drains are removed too early,  you would have a bigger chance to develop a late seroma.  I would give my patients antibiotic to avoid an infection in the old blood inside when I decide to leave the drains longer that 10 days or when there is a hematoma. Stay in touch with your surgeon and discuss these issues. Good luck with everything. If find these suggestions helpful. Follow me so that you can read other answers.

Emmanuel Mallol Cotes, MD · Answer

Thank you very much for sharing your concerns with us.At this point (2 weeks post-po) the swelling is normal.To reduce it, I recommend you perform daily lymphatic drainage massage therapy over the abdomen and wear a postoperative girdle from thigh to the breasts.Kind regards,Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-

John Paul Tutela, MD · Answer

Thanks for reaching out.  Is usually base my decision on drain output.  There may be a pocket of old blood you surgeon is trying to drain.  If you don't have a big swelling or bruise I imagine the drains would be removed. No usually wait for less than 30cc/24hrs as a guide.I hope this helps :)

Tummy tuck drain is still dark red after 2 weeks. Will doctor take them out anyway?

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Tummy tuck drain is still dark red after 2 weeks. Will doctor take them out anyway?

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.